SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — When the New York Mets placed starting second baseman Jeff McNeil on the injured list with a fractured wrist on Sept. 8, they had secured nine consecutive wins to slide into the third and final National League wild-card spot. Since then, McNeil has watched the only MLB team he’s played for go from nearly missing the postseason to making the NLCS as a potential team of destiny.
After 10 plate appearances in the Arizona Fall League, McNeil is likely to rejoin his Mets, amid the magic, on a stage he’s never been before. A seven-year veteran and a two-time All-Star, his lone postseason with the Mets ended in the wild-card round in 2022.
McNeil followed up his 1-for-4 performance that featured a single and a walk on Friday with an RBI single in five at-bats on Saturday.
Jeff McNeil with an RBI single in the 5th inning.
He later came around to score on a Josue Briceño home run@JohnFromAlbany pic.twitter.com/CzPjbAu7e2
— Farm To Flushing (@FarmToFlushing) October 12, 2024
He appeared shaken up after fouling a pitch off of his left leg in the bottom of the fifth, but he eventually returned to the plate to punch his single into left field and remained in the game through the final out.
Game 1 of the NLCS between the Mets and Dodgers at Dodger Stadium is scheduled for an 8 p.m. ET first pitch on Sunday. McNeil seems fairly eager to reenter the fray.
“I’m ready to get going,” said McNeil, seen with an MLB postseason bandana across his forehead. “Got a taste of the postseason in 2022. Didn’t quite go as we wanted to. We were out in three games, which sucks. To see this team play well and get to the NLCS is huge.”
McNeil last competed in the Arizona Fall League as a 23-year-old in 2015. He mostly struggled, hitting .230/.309/.246. His MLB debut arrived less than three years later, nonetheless.
The rest is history — one that includes a batting title, a Silver Slugger award and an All-Star Game start. He now hopes to add a World Series to the mantle.
“Once you’re in the postseason, anything can happen — just like you’re seeing right now,” McNeil said.
(Photo of Jeff McNeil celebrating after the Mets won Game 4 of the NLDS: Elsa / Getty Images)
